Spring clamp



M. 0. JENSEN. SPRING CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 17.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922. I

Svwamtov UITED A'EENT OFFICE...

neutron ofannsnn, or CHICAGO, ILLIn'oIs, ASSIGNOR or one-HALF TO RICHARD ruons or oHIcAeo, ILLINOIS.

SPRING CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed January 17, 1921. Serial No. 437,919.

To all whom-z t may concern:

' Be it known that I, MILTON O. JENSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing atfChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Clamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

- This invention relates to an" improved spring clamp for'use in connection with'a spring of the elliptical or semi-elliptical type" formed of superposed 'strips'of spring metal, the clamp being used when one or more of the strips which form the spring break. One-object of the invention is to so construct this clamp that it may be put in placejand 'hold the spring strips tightly in engagement, the clamp holding the broken'strip or strips against longitudinal and transverse movement and tightly clamping the strips togetherso that the broken strip or stripswill beheld in tight'binding engagement with the unbroken strip or strips and the broken strip "parts held in contactwitheach other, the unit spring retaining its original form and size. 'Anotherobj'ect of the invention is to provide" improved construction of compressor 'carryingcross' bar and improved means to'releasablyihold the cross bar in an operative'position.

1 Another ob and brought into engagement with the second arm and then moved longitudinally upon the arms and held against pivotal movement to a releasin orinoperative position Another object of the invention is to so .construct'the U-shaped body portion of this clamp that it will be prevented from having turning movement upon the spring when the compress ng means V 7 compressmgmeans 1s tightened as will'be put in place and tightened. A I

' Another object of the invention is to .so

construct the clamp that the pivotally mounted cross bar will be prevented from interfering with placing of the'clamp about the broken spring.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the clamp that it may be easily 'ect of the invention is to so construct the U-shaped clamp body and gether at the break so notbe weakened. x

and quickly assembled and securely held in the: assembled position, each of the arms of the Ueshaped body portion having a head at its end .and one of the heads being-formed separate from the arms and securely held in place afterthe cross bar has been placed upon the arm forsliding and pivotal movement thereon. I

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aviewshowing the improved clamp in vertical section andapplied to a spring having one of the resilient strips broken. j

Figure 2 is a view showing the clamp in end elevation and looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 3. Figure 3 is 2L'V16W showing the clamp. in sideelevation, the compressing means and thecrossbar carrying: the same being par- .tially shown in section." 3 I j Figure. i is' a view taken along the line 4 4of Fig.

Figure 5;is asectional View taken along the line'5"5-of Fig. 3.

T This improvedclam'p' is for use in -connection with an elliptical or semi-elliptical 1 and indicated in general by the numeral 1.

This spring is of a conventional construction and is formed of a plurality of resilient strips 2, one ofwhich is shown broken. If a spring strip breaks, it is liable to work longitudinally or transverselyout of place and it is the object of this spring clamp'to prev vent the brokenstrip from working "loose and also serve to't'ightly' clamp the strip tothat the spring will This clamp isprovided' with a U-shaped bo dy 3' having across head 4c' and side arms 5 andfi'} th'ecross head and the upper end portion's of the side arms 5 and 6 being provided with integral side strips 7 which: serve to provide wide bearing faces for engaging the spring and preventingthe clamp from.

turning upon the spring when the spring strips 7 the offset portions of the two arms v will be circular in cross sectionas shown thus permitting 'the'cro'ssbar 8 to be slidablyand pivotally mounted upon the lower portion of the arm 6. The free end portionof this arm 6 is somewhat reduced and threaded as shown at 9 in 4: and carries a nut 10 which is put in place after the cross barhas been placed upon the arm. This nut 10 which is to form a head for the arm 6 has its threaded opening which receives the threaded end portion 9 of the arm enlarged at its outer or lower end as, clearly shown in Fig. 4 so that after the nut has been put in placey'theen'd portion of the arm may be formed into a rivet head thus preventing removal of'the securing nut. The arm 5 is provided with a head 11 having a rounded end and in the preferred form, the outer end of the nut 10 and the end of the arm 6 which is formed into the rivet head will be rounded so that the arms will each be provided with a head having a rounded end. It will thus be seen that the two heads will be of a similar appearance when the nut or head 10 is put in place. i i The cross bar 8 which is pivotally and slidably mounted upon the arm 6 of the body is provided with an enlarged central portion having a threaded opening formed therein and thus providing a threaded bearing 12 through which passes the threaded stem 13 of the compressor. This stem is provided with a turning head 14 at its outer or lower end and with a work engaging head 15 at its upper end which is in swivel connection with the stem as shown at 16 so that the stem may be rotated to compress the spring without the head 15 turning with the stem.

A. clamping nut 17 is provided upon this stem for engaging the underface of the bearing 12 and securely locking the stem against rotary movement after the spring has been tightly compressed. The free end portion of this cross bar, is provided with .a circular opening 18 having a side entrance 19 which is of less diameter than the diameter of the opening 18. The arm 5 of the U-shaped body hasits side portions cut away as shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 5 thus providing a reduced neck 20 which is of proper diameter for passing through the entrance 19. It will thus be seen that when the cross bar is swung upon thearm 6, the reduced neck may pass through the entrance 19 into the opening18and the cross bar may then be'moved along the-arms 5 and 6 towards the i pass out through theentrance when the cross :bar is in the operative posltion shown in heads 10 and 11 so that the portion of the :arm 5 between the neck 20 and the head 11 [will be positioned in the opening 18.. The

opening 18 is of the proper size to receive thearm-5 and permit free sliding movement of the cross bar upon the arm but the entrance 19 is too small to permit the arm 5 to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Therefore, there will be no danger of the. cross bar turning-upon thev arm 6 and slipping out of the operative posicid entally slipping out of the operative p0- towards the same. The clamp will be put in place upon the spring and will fit snugly within the portion of the U-shaped body provided with the side strips. By having the end portions of the arms ofi'set as shown in Fig. 3, the heads 10 and 11 will not interfere with the placing of the clamp upon the broken spring.

After the clamp is in place, the cross bar will be moved away from'the head 10 of the arm 6 and then swung to the operative position with the neck 20 passing through the entrance 19 and into the opening 18. The cross bar will then be allowed to drop down upon the two heads 10 and 11 and the compressing screw 13 will be turned by means of a suitable wrench engaging the turning head 14. This will bring the swivel head 15 into engagement with the underface of the spring and continue turning of the screw or threaded stem will tightly compressjthe spring and securely hold the broken spring in place. After the stem has been tightened as much as desired, the securing nut 17 V will be tightened and the stem will be securely held in place. WVhen a permanent repair is to be made to the spring, the nut 17 will-he loosened and the stem canthen be turned and moved out of engagement with the.

be seen that there hasbeen provideda clamp so constructed that it can be easilyand quickly put in place and so constructed that therewill be no danger of the crossbar acsi tion. Itv willv be, further noted that provision of the side strips 7 will tend to prevent turning of the U-shaped body upon the spring. when the threadedstem is tightened, and therefore, the clamp will beheld in the proper pos tion when in use. i l i What is claimed is:

1. A clamp .comprisinga u-shaped body havlnga cross head and side arms the cross head and upper portions of the side" arms being providedwith side extensions to provide relatively wide bearing faces, and-compressingvmeans carried bytheside arms,

the free end portions of the arms below theside extensions .beingcircular in crosssection and the compressing means beingpivotally and slidably mounted upon the free end portion of one arm and having its second end portion cut from one side wherebythe;

the second arm.

2. A clamp comprising awork engaging body having side arms having their end portions circular in cross section and terminating in heads, one arm adjacent its head having its side portions cut away to provide a reduced and flattened neck, a cross bar pivotally and slidably mounted upon the second arm and having in its free end portion an opening for slidably receiving the first arm, the opening having a reduced side entrance for receiving the reduced neck when moving the cross bar on and off of the first arm and compressing means carried bythe cross bar.

3. A clamp comprising a body having side arms, each having a head at its free end and one having a reduced neck adjacent to but spaced from its head, and a compressor carrying cross bar pivotally and slidably mounted upon the second arm and having its free end portion provided with an opening having a reduced side passage for receiving the neck of the first arm when the cross bar is swung into engagement with the first arm, the cross bar being then moved along the arms to engage the heads thereof with the portion of the first arm between the neck and head thereof positioned in the opening at the free end of the cross bar and preventing swinging of the cross bar to an inoperative position. a

4. A clamp comprising a body having side arms, each having a head at its free end and one having a reduced neck adjacent to but 7 V spaced from its head, and a compressor carrying cross bar pivotally and slidably mounted upon the second arm for movement into and out of engagement with the first arm, the cross bar when having engagement with the first arm at the neck thereof being slidably and pivotally mounted and when in engagement with the portion of the first arm between the neck and head thereof being held against pivotal movement,

5. The structure of claim 1 having the compressing means pivotally and slidably engaging one arm and slidably and releasably engaging the second arm and held against pivotal movement when moved towards one end of the second arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 111 hand. i

y MILTON o. JENSEN. 

